Method and apparatus that provides power generated from external energy signal

Abstract

A power providing device is provided. The power providing device includes a first energy harvester element configured to generate power in response to an external energy signal being received, a connection switching element configured to switch a connection between the first energy harvester element and a second energy harvester element; and a first rectifier comprising one or more path switching elements configured to change a rectification path in response to the switching of the connection switching element, wherein the first rectifier is connected to the first energy harvester element to rectify the power generated by the first energy harvester element along the rectification path.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A power providing device, comprising:
 a first energy harvester element, of a plurality of energy harvester elements, configured as a transducer to generate power in response to an external ultrasonic signal being received; 
 a connection switching element, of a plurality of connection switching elements, configured to switch, dependent on a rectifying operation of a first rectifier, from a current configuration of the first energy harvester element being connected to a second energy harvester element, of a plurality of energy harvester elements, to a different configuration of the first energy harvester element and the second energy harvester element; and 
 the first rectifier comprising one or more path switching elements configured to change a rectification path in response to the switching of the connection switching element, 
 wherein the first rectifier is connected to the first energy harvester element to rectify the power generated by the first energy harvester element along the rectification path. 
 
     
     
       2. The power providing device of  claim 1 , wherein in response to the different configuration having the first energy harvester element being connected in series with one or more other energy harvester elements of the plurality of energy harvester elements, the one or more path switching elements form a series path with a second rectifier connected to the second energy harvester elements. 
     
     
       3. The power providing device of  claim 1 , wherein, in response to the different configuration having the first energy harvester element being connected in series between two or more second energy harvester elements, of the plurality of energy harvester elements, by two or more connection switching elements of the plurality of connection switching elements, the path switching element excludes the first rectifier from the rectification path. 
     
     
       4. The power providing device of  claim 1 , wherein in response to the different configuration having the first energy harvester element being disconnected from the second energy harvester element, the path switching element forms a parallel rectification path with respect to the second energy harvester element. 
     
     
       5. The power providing device of  claim 1 , wherein the connection switching element is configured to:
 connect the first energy harvester element in series with the second energy harvester element in response to a connection signal that is dependent on an output of the first rectifier, and 
 disconnect the first energy harvester element from the second energy harvester element in response to a disconnection signal that is dependent on the output of the first rectifier. 
 
     
     
       6. The power providing device of  claim 1 , wherein the power providing device is configured to switch, based on a current output from the first rectifier, to the different configuration using the connection switching element. 
     
     
       7. The power providing device of  claim 6 , wherein in response to the current output from the first rectifier being determined less than a threshold current, the different configuration includes one or more second energy harvester elements, of the plurality of energy harvester elements, being connected in series with the first energy harvester element using a plurality of connection switching elements. 
     
     
       8. The power providing device of  claim 6 , wherein the power providing device is configured to monitor currents output from the first rectifier for respective connection states between the first energy harvester element and one or more second harvester elements of the plurality of energy harvester elements, and determine a connection state, with a corresponding configuration of the first energy harvester element being connected to the second energy harvester element, in which a highest current is output, among the respective connection states. 
     
     
       9. The power providing device of  claim 8 , wherein the power providing device is configured to maintain the determined connection state while the power rectified by the first rectifier is provided to a load. 
     
     
       10. The power providing device of  claim 6 , wherein the power providing device is configured to determine an array, to select the different configuration, corresponding to a current value output from individual energy harvester elements through the first rectifier, and form a connection of a plurality of energy harvester elements using a plurality of connection switching elements based on the determined array. 
     
     
       11. The power providing device of  claim 1 , wherein the connection switching element is configured as a non-volatile memory switch to maintain one of a connection state and a disconnection state between the first energy harvester element and the second energy harvester element based on a pre-stored switching state. 
     
     
       12. The power providing device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a load connected to an output of the first rectifier, 
 wherein in response to the different configuration having a plurality of energy harvester elements being connected in series, the first rectifier rectifies power with a voltage applied to a first end of the plurality of energy harvester elements and a second end of the plurality of energy harvester elements, and provides the rectified power to the load. 
 
     
     
       13. The power providing device of  claim 1 , wherein the first energy harvester element and the second energy harvester element are formed of a material that vibrates in response to the receiving of the external energy signal, and the first energy harvester element and the second energy harvester element have a same resonant frequency. 
     
     
       14. The power providing device of  claim 1 , wherein the first energy harvester element and the second energy harvester element are disposed on a same plane and have reception axes parallel to each other. 
     
     
       15. The power providing device of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more path switching elements comprise a plurality of diode elements disposed to form the rectification path. 
     
     
       16. The power providing device of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more path switching elements comprise:
 passive diode elements and transistor switches, 
 wherein the passive diode elements and the transistor switches are configured to form the rectification path in response to an output voltage of the first rectifier being determined less than a threshold output, and 
 the transistor switches exclude the passive diode elements and form the rectification path through on-off switching based on a current output from the first energy harvester element, in response to the output voltage of the first rectifier being determined greater than or equal to the threshold output. 
 
     
     
       17. A power providing device, comprising:
 a plurality of energy harvester elements configured as transducers to generate power in response to an external ultrasonic signal being received; 
 a plurality of connection switching elements configured to switch, dependent on a rectifying operation of a rectifier, from a current configuration, of one or more of the plurality of energy harvester elements being connected to another one or more of the plurality of energy harvester elements, to a different configuration of the one or more of the plurality of energy harvester elements and the other one or more of the plurality of energy harvester elements; and 
 a plurality of rectifiers, including the rectifier, individually connected to the plurality of energy harvester elements, 
 wherein the plurality of rectifiers each include a path switching element configured to form a rectification path with respect to the power generated by the plurality of energy harvester elements in response to the switching of the plurality of connection switching elements. 
 
     
     
       18. A power providing method performed by a power providing device, the power providing method comprising:
 generating, by a first energy harvester element configured as a transducer, power in response to an external ultrasonic signal being received in vivo; 
 switching, dependent on a rectify operation of a rectifier, from a current configuration of the first energy harvester element being connected to a second energy harvester element to a different configuration of the first energy harvester element and the second energy harvester element; 
 forming a rectification path with respect to at least one of the first energy harvester element and the second energy harvester element in response to the switching; 
 rectifying, by the rectifier, the power generated by the first energy harvester element along the rectification path; and 
 maintaining the formed rectification path, while the power generated by the first energy harvester element and the second energy harvester element and rectified by the rectifier is provided to a load. 
 
     
     
       19. The power providing method of  claim 18 , wherein the forming of the rectification path comprises additionally connecting the second energy harvester element to the first energy harvester element in series, in response to a current of the rectified power output from the rectifier being determined less than a threshold current. 
     
     
       20. A power providing device, comprising:
 a battery; 
 a plurality of piezoelectric elements connected to the battery, the plurality of piezoelectric elements configured to transduce power in response to an ultrasonic signal being received, and provide the transduced power to the battery; and 
 a switching element configured to selectively, dependent on a rectified current corresponding to at least one of the plurality of piezoelectric elements, switch between a series connection of the plurality of piezoelectric elements and a parallel connection of the plurality of piezoelectric elements, wherein one of the series connection of the plurality of piezoelectric elements and the parallel connection of the plurality of piezoelectric elements is selected based on a current value output of a respective rectified current. 
 
     
     
       21. The power providing device of  claim 20 , wherein the plurality of piezoelectric elements are configured to transduce the power when disposed at a depth, from an exterior surface, of greater than 5 cm in a human body. 
     
     
       22. The power providing device of  claim 20 , wherein the plurality of piezoelectric elements include four or more piezoelectric elements. 
     
     
       23. The power providing device of  claim 20 , wherein a size of each of the plurality of piezoelectric elements is less than or equal to 5 mm. 
     
     
       24. The power providing device of  claim 20 , wherein the one of the series connection of the plurality of piezoelectric elements and the parallel connection of the plurality of piezoelectric elements is selected further based on a state of charge of the battery. 
     
     
       25. The power providing device of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 a rectifier connected to each of the plurality of piezoelectric elements. 
 
     
     
       26. The power providing device of  claim 20 , wherein the power providing device is configured to increase a number of piezoelectric elements connected in series, among the plurality of piezoelectric elements, using the switching element, in response to the current value output from the rectifier being determined less than a threshold current. 
     
     
       27. The power providing device of  claim 20 , wherein the switching element is configured as a non-volatile memory switch to maintain one of the series connection of the plurality of piezoelectric elements and the parallel connection of the plurality of piezoelectric elements based on a pre-stored switching state. 
     
     
       28. The power providing device of  claim 20 , wherein the power providing device is configured to maintain a connection state of the plurality of piezoelectric elements while power rectified by a rectifier is provided to the battery. 
     
     
       29. A power providing system, comprising:
 a transmitter configured to transmit an external ultrasonic signal; 
 a bio-implant device configured to receive the transmitted external ultrasonic signal, and transduce power based on the received external ultrasonic signal, 
 wherein the bio-implant device comprises
 a plurality of energy harvester elements connected in one of a series mode and a parallel mode; 
 a rectifier; and 
 a connection switching element configured to switch, dependent on a current output from the rectifier being determined less than a threshold current, from a current configuration, of one or more of the plurality of energy harvester elements being connected to another one or more of the plurality of energy harvester elements, to a different configuration of the one or more of the plurality of energy harvester elements and the other one or more of the plurality of energy harvester elements. 
 
 
     
     
       30. The power providing system of  claim 29 , wherein the bio-implant device is configured to monitor currents output from the rectifier for the respective changes in the arrays of energy harvester elements, and determine a connection state in which a highest current is output, among the respective arrays.